The Harver English test in one paragraph
If a BPO has sent you a Harver link, the speaking part is most likely Harver's Spoken Language Assessment. Harver describes it as three sections: "single word testing, listening to a sentence and repeat the sentence, and reading a longer paragraph aloud". A computer scores the recording, not a person. Per Harver, the system analyses factors that are "predictive of English pronunciation and fluency, including speaking rate, pauses & hesitations, cadence and pitch", and reports a percentile alongside IELTS and CEFR references that the employer can share with its client. Concentrix names Harver in its own careers FAQ, so for Concentrix the Harver part is official. That Teleperformance uses Harver is a candidate report: no TP page we could read says so. Harver publishes no duration, no pass mark and no candidate fee; the employer pays and sets the cut-off. In our judgement, the commonest mistake is rushing. A machine that listens for rate, pauses and pitch rewards steady, evenly paced speech with clear word endings. Speed is not one of the things it praises.
- Three sections: single words, listen and repeat a sentence, read a longer paragraph aloud.
- Scored automatically on speaking rate, pauses and hesitations, cadence and pitch. Harver's headline says it assesses "word choice, pronunciation and fluency".
- Results: a percentile, with IELTS and CEFR references.
- Content is customisable: employers can use their own "talk tracks", storylines and difficulty, and can target words that a language group finds hard to pronounce.
- No public duration, pass mark, retake rule or fee. The employer pays.
The three sections, quoted, and what each measures
Harver's own FAQ on the Spoken Language Assessment page gives the three sections in one sentence and the four scored factors in another. It does not say which factor is scored in which section, so the right-hand column below is TalkDrill's reading of what each task exposes. Treat it as our judgement, not Harver's.
| Section (Harver's words) | What you do | What the task exposes (TalkDrill's reading) |
|---|---|---|
| "Single word testing" | You say individual words. Harver does not state whether each word is shown on screen or played as audio, so be ready for both. | Word stress and individual sounds. Harver says the test can be "tailored for use in different regions by identifying words that are especially difficult to pronounce by candidates in a particular language group". Expect words picked to catch your first language. |
| "Listening to a sentence and repeat the sentence" | You hear a sentence once and say it back. | Short-term memory for the whole sentence, the small words (a, the, of, to), word endings (-s, -ed) and whether your rhythm matches the model. |
| "Reading a longer paragraph aloud" | You read a paragraph. Harver says employers can write it as their own contact-centre storyline. | Speaking rate, where you pause, and whether your voice rises and falls with meaning. This is where cadence and pitch show most. |
The four scored factors in plain English
- Speaking rate. How quickly you speak. Too slow sounds unsure; too fast swallows word endings. Harver publishes no target rate, so do not chase one. Aim for the pace you use when you explain something to a friend who is listening carefully.
- Pauses and hesitations. Where you stop, and for how long. A pause at a comma or a full stop is natural. A pause inside a phrase ("I would like to... um... confirm your") reads as hesitation.
- Cadence. The rhythm of stressed and unstressed syllables. English stresses the content words (nouns, main verbs, adjectives) and squeezes the small ones. Tagalog, Hindi, Telugu and Tamil are often described as syllable-timed, giving each syllable a similar length, which sounds flat when carried into English.
- Pitch. The rise and fall of your voice. A monotone reading flattens it; so does a rising tone at the end of every statement, which makes a fact sound like a question.
Concentrix, Teleperformance and others: official or reported
Search results for "Harver Concentrix" and "Teleperformance English test" mix official statements with prep-site guesses. Here is what each company or Harver itself actually publishes, as read on 21 October 2026.
| Employer | What is published | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Concentrix | Its careers FAQ says "Harver is a virtual assessment tool that allows us to objectively evaluate our candidates", and that online tests cover "language proficiency, computer proficiency, customer support, and typing skills". It does not name the Spoken Language Assessment module or say which countries use which modules. | Official that Concentrix uses Harver. The spoken module at your site: see your invitation. |
| Teleperformance (TP) | No TP page we could read names Harver, Versant or any English test. | Candidate reports only. Prep sites and candidate posts mention Harver links for some TP roles and a Versant test for others. |
| KellyConnect | Named, with a customer quote, on Harver's contact-centre page. | Official that it is a Harver customer. Modules used are not stated. |
| IntouchCX | Named on the same Harver page. | Official that it is a Harver customer. Modules used are not stated. |
| Other BPOs in the Philippines and India | Harver says its contact-centre platform can "test for fluency in 29 languages". It names no other employers there. | Not published. |
Two rules we follow on this page. We do not copy "companies that use Harver" lists from prep sites, because nobody shows a source for them. And an employer can change its test vendor without notice, so the invitation in your inbox outranks anything written here, including this page. If your link turns out to be Pearson or SHL, our comparison of Versant, SVAR, Harver and Berlitz tells you what changes, and the Versant guide covers the Pearson format task by task.
What else a Harver invitation can contain
The spoken test is one part of a longer flow. Concentrix's FAQ lists language proficiency, computer proficiency, customer support and typing, and adds that "for work-from-home roles, your internet speed and system requirements will also be tested". Harver's contact-centre page also lists a "Live Chat Support Simulation". The FAQ's practical warning matters most: "Once you open the module, the clock starts ticking."
| Module (as named by Harver or Concentrix) | How to prepare |
|---|---|
| Language proficiency, spoken | This page, plus the practice bank for read-aloud and repeat items. |
| Language proficiency, grammar and vocabulary | Concentrix suggests "reviewing basic grammar and vocabulary concepts". Focus on tenses, articles and prepositions in customer-service sentences. |
| Customer support (judgement or chat simulation) | Read every option before choosing. The best answer usually solves the customer's problem, follows process and keeps a polite tone. Our mock call page has the phrases. |
| Typing | Practise on a full keyboard, not a phone. Accuracy first, then speed. |
| Computer proficiency | Basic browser, email and file tasks. Use the device you will test on. |
| Internet speed and system check (work-from-home roles) | Run it on the same connection and laptop you will work on, not a borrowed one. |
Before you click Start
Wired or USB headset with a microphone, not the laptop's built-in one. A room where nobody will walk in. Other tabs closed, notifications off, laptop on charge. Ten seconds of test recording played back to check the volume. Then open the module, because the timer starts when you do.
Practice set: words, repeat sentences, paragraphs
Everything in this section is written by TalkDrill in the style of the three Harver tasks. None of it is copied from Harver, and Harver's real items are customised for each employer, so treat this as practice of the skill, not a preview of the questions.
Section 1 drill: 20 single words (stress in capitals)
| Word | Say it | The usual trap |
|---|---|---|
| account | ac-COUNT | Stress on the first syllable. |
| balance | BAL-ance | Second syllable said as a full "lance". |
| cancel | CAN-cel | Ending said as "cell" with equal stress. |
| refund (noun) | RE-fund | Noun and verb mixed up; the verb is re-FUND. |
| technician | tech-NI-cian | "TECH-ni-cian" with stress on the first syllable. |
| warranty | WAR-ran-ty | "war-RAN-ty". |
| subscription | sub-SCRIP-tion | Added vowel: "sub-is-crip-tion". |
| verification | ver-i-fi-CA-tion | Stress on "ver". |
| inconvenience | in-con-VEN-ience | Every syllable equal. |
| appreciate | ap-PRE-ci-ate | "ap-pre-SHI-ate". |
| apologise | a-POL-o-gise | "A-po-lo-gise". |
| available | a-VAIL-a-ble | Swallowed middle: "a-vail-ble". |
| schedule | SHED-yool or SKED-jool | Mixing both in one call. Pick one and keep it. |
| Wednesday | WENZ-day | Saying the first d. |
| comfortable | COMF-ta-ble | Four full syllables: "com-for-ta-ble". |
| February | FEB-roo-ary | "Feb-yoo-ary" is common and usually fine; dropping the second syllable is not. |
| receipt | re-CEET | Saying the p. |
| certificate | cer-TIF-i-cate | "CER-ti-fi-cate". |
| development | de-VEL-op-ment | "de-ve-LOP-ment". |
| thorough | THUR-uh | "tho-rough" with a hard t and a g sound. |
Section 2 drill: 10 sentences to repeat, short to long
- Your order has been shipped.
- I can see the payment on your account.
- Could you please confirm your date of birth?
- The technician will call you before he arrives.
- I'm sorry for the trouble this has caused you today.
- Let me place you on a brief hold while I check that for you.
- The refund will go back to the card you used for the purchase.
- If the light on the router is still red, please unplug it and wait a moment.
- You'll receive a text message with a link to track your delivery.
- Before we close the call, is there anything else I can help you with today?
Have someone read each sentence once, or record them yourself and play them back a day later. Repeat without looking. If you lose a sentence, it is usually because you tried to hold every word; hold the stressed words (ORDER, SHIPPED; SEE, PAYMENT, ACCOUNT) and the small words fall into place around them.
Section 3 drill: three paragraphs to read aloud
Paragraph A, marked up (written by TalkDrill). A slash is a pause; capitals are the stressed words.
Billing call
Thank you for CALLING. / I can SEE that your BILL this month / is HIGHER than USUAL. / The REASON is a ONE-time CHARGE / for your NEW CONNECTION, / which APPEARS only ONCE. / From NEXT month, / your bill will RETURN to the NORMAL amount. / If you LIKE, / I can SEND you a BREAKDOWN by EMAIL / so you can CHECK each ITEM. / Is there ANYTHING on the bill / that you DON'T RECOGNISE?
Paragraph B (written by TalkDrill). Mark it up yourself before you read it: slashes for pauses, capitals for stress.
I understand that your parcel was due yesterday and has not arrived. I have checked the tracking, and it is at your local depot. It will be out for delivery tomorrow morning. You will receive a text message when the driver is close, with an option to choose a safe place if you will not be at home. I am sorry for the delay, and I have added a note to your account so that the team can follow it up.
Paragraph C (written by TalkDrill).
Let us try one more step before we arrange a technician. Please turn the modem off at the wall and wait until all the lights go out. Then turn it back on and give it a minute to restart. When the internet light turns green, open any website to check the connection. If the light stays red, stay on the line, because I can book the earliest visit while we are still talking.
Score yourself: the TalkDrill self-check
| Factor | How to check it on a recording | You are ready when |
|---|---|---|
| Rate | Read paragraph A, then tell a friend the same information in your own words. Compare the two speeds. | Your reading is no faster than your natural explanation. |
| Pauses | Play back paragraph B. Mark every pause that is not at a slash you drew. | Zero pauses inside a phrase; no "um" or "ah". |
| Cadence | Listen only to the small words: a, the, of, to, for, and. | They are shorter and quieter than the stressed words around them. |
| Pitch | Listen to the last word of each statement. | It falls. Only the yes or no question at the end of paragraph A rises. |
| Endings | Listen for -s and -ed: "arrived", "checked", "lights", "minutes". | Every ending is audible, without an extra vowel after it. |
For a scored version of the same task, use our read-aloud practice, which marks fluency and pronunciation on each attempt. The introduction paragraph drill is a good first run.
Tips that move each part of the score
Single words
- Say each word once, cleanly, at normal volume. Do not repeat it "to be safe": a second attempt can be scored as hesitation.
- Put the stress in the right place before worrying about any single sound. A word with the right stress and a slightly accented vowel is easier to recognise than the reverse.
- Finish the last consonant. "Account" needs its t; "refund" needs its d.
Listen and repeat
- Start speaking as soon as the audio ends. A long silence while you rebuild the sentence counts against you.
- If you lose a word, keep the rhythm and say the rest. A complete sentence with one wrong word sounds more fluent than a perfect half sentence.
- Copy the speaker's stress pattern, not the speaker's accent.
Read a paragraph aloud
- Scan the paragraph first if the screen allows it. Spot the difficult words and the full stops.
- Pause at punctuation, and only there. Group the words between pauses as one breath.
- Let your voice fall at full stops. Rise only on yes or no questions.
- If you misread a word, correct it once and move on. Do not restart the sentence.
For all three
- Keep the microphone in the same place, about a hand's width from your mouth and slightly to the side, so breathing does not hit it.
- Drink water before you start. A dry mouth makes final consonants disappear.
- Speak to a person in your head, not to the screen. It keeps your pitch moving.
Sounds to check first, by first language
Harver says employers can tune the single-word list to words "especially difficult to pronounce by candidates in a particular language group". These are the sounds we would check first for the languages this page is written for. They are TalkDrill teaching notes, not Harver data; the first-language mistakes page goes deeper.
| First language | Check these first | Drill |
|---|---|---|
| Tagalog | f and p (file, pile), v and b (very, berry), th said as t or d, short and long vowels (ship, sheep). | p, f, b, v drill |
| Bisaya (Cebuano) and Hiligaynon | i and e (pin, pen), o and u (pull, pole), plus f and p and v and b. | short i and long ee drill |
| Hindi | v and w (very, worry), a vowel added before s clusters (school as "iskool"), hard t and d sounds. | v and w drill |
| Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada | Equal stress on every syllable, a vowel added after final consonants ("and-u"), stress on the wrong syllable in long words. | word stress drill |
| Marathi and Bengali | v and w (Marathi), v and b (Bengali), s and sh (Bengali), dropped -s and -ed endings. | -ed endings drill |
A three-day route before your deadline
If your invitation gives you a deadline, this is the route we would follow with three days left, about 30 minutes a day.
- Day 1, find your weakest factor (30 minutes). Record the 20 words, the 10 sentences and paragraph B. Score yourself with the self-check table. Pick the one factor with the most misses.
- Day 2, fix that factor (30 minutes). If it is sounds, do the drill for your first language twice. If it is pauses or rate, read paragraphs A, B and C three times each, marking pauses first. Then run two scored attempts in read-aloud practice.
- Day 3, full run and the rest of the flow (30 minutes). One complete pass of all three drills without stopping. Then ten minutes of the AI BPO voice interview, because a live interview can follow a passed assessment. Check your headset, room and connection, then open the Harver link.
If you have a week, our 7-day BPO English test plan spreads the same work over seven sessions and adds a full mock on day 6. If your next round is a mock call, the call centre scripts and phrases guide is the place to start. For the format of the whole cluster, go back to the BPO English tests hub.